Conveyer



April 11, 1933. J. c. WALTER ET AL CONVEYER Filed Aug. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 John C. Walier Hudoiph Vogfi,

M a q April 1, 1933. J. c. WALTER ET AL CONVEYER Filed Aug. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue ntors April 11, 1933- J. c. WALTER AL ,903,732

CONVEYER Filed Aug. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A E A g. A

ma nu 11, 1933 UNITED STATES some 0. wnm arm aunonrn voer', or cmcnmmr, omo, ASSIGNOBS m m counmr, or omnzcnwcmnarr, omo, .A-OOBPOBATIOF or aLvsr-raaeuson omo coma This invention has relation to that t pe of conveyors whose load-supporting be s are formed of rollers the undersurfaces of whose bodies are in frictional contact with the working run of an endless traveling belt by which rotative movement on their respective axes is imparted to said rollers, and in which said working run of the belt is supported by a series of rollers operative thereon to cause said run of the belt to engage the load-carrying rollers with suflicient force to assure advancing movement of the load on said rollers. The returning run of the belt in this type of conveyer is supported by a third series of rollers, frictionally engaged therewith.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a combination and correlation of parts, together with certain improvements in the elements, from which important economies and also improved results will be obtained, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, two typical embodiments of 'the invention are illustrated and these embodiments will be described in minute detail without, however, intending thereby to restrict the invention to said details in all respects, since it is recognized that other changes in details may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of the conveyer embodying our improvements, with Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 isa cross section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; I

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a detail section'on the line 1010 of Flg. 9.

In all of the belt are marked D. The several series- PATENT ornca figures of the drawings, the loadcarrying rollers are marked A, the working of rollers and the belt as thus far referred-5 to may be of any suitable construction and other is not out ofthe ordinary in this type of conveyers. a

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention each load-carrying roller A is rotatably mounted on a stationary axle 0. whose ends are supported by longitudinal frame members E, E, respectively arranged at opposite sides of the conveyer and connected with each other by transverse tie members F arranged at intervals along the length of the conveyer and having their ends secured by any suitable means to said frame members E, E to thereby tie the members on the opposite sides of the frame into a substantially unitary structure. The members E, E are preferabl of channel formation and each tie member F in such case will be secured at its op osite ends to the base flanges e, 6' thereof.

n each illustrated embodiment of the invention the sulpportin rollers D for the returning run of t e belt are rotatably mounted on stationar axles'd which need not be adjustable and t e rollers C which support the working run B of said belt are rotatably mounted on stationary axles 0. Each first member in su porting the secondlatter to, and fix it member and adjust t in, its required position in said first member. nated H in all figures of the drawings and 15 of the same construction in both embodiments of the invention. It provides 'a bearing block b which the end of a corresponding roller 0 is carried. The said first member is designated I in the embodiment shown in Fi 1-5, inclusive, and I in the embodiment illistrated in Figs. 6-50, inlclusive an rovi es a su porting an iii in member fl the bearing block H. g g Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in I'i 1-5, inclusive, it will be noticed that tue frame includes longitudinal members G of angle formation and that each member I is formed with oppositely extending base flanges i which rest upon and are secured to the flange of the corresponding member G, preferabfy by bolts 10 and nuts 11, as shown. These bolts extend through elon ated openin 12 formed in the base mem rs z'to there y permit independent adjustment of the members I, together with their hearing blocks H longitudinally of the frame to thereby correspondingly ad'ust the rollers C relatively to each other an to the belt and load-carryin rollers. Each member I also includes fl at sides 11', which are spaced from each other, whose upper ends are connected with one another by a cross member i" which forms the top of the member.

The longitudinal frame members G not only support the members I by which the bearing blocks H of the rollers C are supported and guided, but also serve to support the rollers D, the ends of whose axles d are shown as extending into openings in blocks d suitabl secured to the vertical partsg' of said'mem rs G.

Each bearing block H is a casting whose op osite sides are formed with broad chan ne h to receive the sides i of the correspondin member I, each of saidchannels being de ed by guiding lips h, h which enga the edges of the corresponding side i. t will be noticed that the sides 11 of the member I have flatwise engagement with the backs of the channels and that their edges are engaged with the lips h, h. Adjustment of each block is effected through the medium of an adjusting bolt J which extends through the block from top to bottom of the latter and through an opening formed in the top member 2'" of the corresponding member I. Each bolt referably has at its lower end a head 7' set mto the bottom of the corre- The said second member is desigsponding bearing block flush with the under surface of the latter and is provided at its opposite end with a pair of nuts 7" which rest one upon the other and one upon the top 5" of the member I and both of which'are exposed for convenient access thereto. These nuts co-operate with each other and with said head j in raising and lowering-the bearin block within the corresponding member and in maintaining said block against accidental displacement from its thus adjusted position, as will be readily understood.

Each bearing block H is also formed on its inner side with alateral opening h which receives the corres nding end of the axle e of the corresponding roller 0, whereby the end of said r0 ler is adjusted correspxondingly with adjustment of its bearing bloc It will be noticed that this adjustable bearing block H is of such construction that it' may be cast throughout and will call for no machine work whatsoever, except the drillin of the openin k for the corresponding ro er axle. It W1 1 be noticed that the mounting of the members I on continuous frame members G, G and, the supporting of the rollers D also from said frame members rmits the use of rollers C and D whose len be much shorter than would otherwise be required. Each of these features of the applicants construction produces important economies in the construction of these conveyers. Moreover, the correlation of the adjustable bearing blocks H and the members I and the formation of the latter members with oppositely extending bases having eifective bearing on flat frame elements avoids all danger of any change in the vertical adjustment of the rollers C during the horizontal adjustment of said rollers: and furthermore the described correlation permits the adjustable bearings to be located in such a spaced relation with the side, longitudinal, members of the frame that the adjusting nuts will be fully exposed and accessible to a wrench for a justment. .In Figs. 6-10, inclusive, we have shown a s mayconstruction in which the guiding and supporting members. marked I", for the adjustable bearing blocks H, are modified to adapt them to be secured directly to the side members E, E of the frame, and the members G, G, which extend continuously throughout the frame in the construction shown in Figs 1-5, inclusive, are omitted and separate angles, marked G", are employed to support the respective ends of the rollers D. The only change in the guiding and supporting members. marked I", in comparison with the guiding and supporting members, marked I, is in the substitution for the horizontal flanges i of angular flanges including tapered horizontal portions 2'" and vertical portions I, of integral formation. It will be noticed that the horizontal portions i provide bases of oppositely tapered form from whose inner ends the vertical portions I project. This provides a well braced construction having adequate bearing u on the inner surface of the corres onding rame members E, or E. Eachvertical portion I is formed with an elongated opening 12 to receive a fastening bolt 10' (Fig. 9) and said opening is hori- I zontally elongated to permit horizontal adjustment of the members I and hence of the corresponding bearing block and end of the corresponding roller, relatively to the corresponding frame member E or. g E. It will be understood that the bolts 10' are provided with appropriate fastening nuts 10". The separate angles G which support the rollers D are suitably secured in this construction to the tie members F and project downward from said members. As alread stated, the bearing blocks H of this embodi-' ment of the invention are identical in construction with the bearing blocks of the first described construction and have the same guided relationship with the supporting memformed with a through-opening, the bear-' ing means also including a supporting and guiding member in which the adjustable member is slidably mounted, said supporting and guiding member having spaced flat sides seated in said guiding channels with their bodies respectively in flatwise engagement with the backwalls of the channels and their edges in contact with the lips formed by said channels, the supporting and guiding member also having a wall which connects its said sides with each other at one of its ends and flanges at its opposite ends to attach it to a member of the conveyer frame, and said bearing means also including adjusting means including an element which extends through the through-opening in,the adjustable member and through the wall. connecting the sides of the supporting and guiding member with each other and is operative to adjust said adjustable member, said element having devices at its opposite ends to engage the adjustable member and wall, respectively.

2. A structure according to claim 1 and in which the wall of the guiding and supporting member overlies the upper surface of the adjustable supporting member and the devices at the opposite ends of the adjusting element comprise a head set into the bottom of the adjustable member and an, ad-

justing nut above the connecting wall of the for fixing the latter in the position to which it has been set in said, first member; said second member having a block-like bodytwo' of whose opposite sides are formed with substantially broad channels and one of whose remaining sides is formed with an opening to receive an axial projection from the corresponding end of t e-roller; the first member having spaced flat sides which are fitted to the channels in the sides of the second member and a top member which overlies the top of said second member, said sides also having, at their lower ends, elements, including lateral flanges, for securing the bearing means in position; said supporting and fixing means including an element extending from the upper end of the second member through the top of the first member andprovided with .means operative thereon to adjust the second member and to hold the same in adjusted position. I

4. A 'conveyer comprising a frame, a series of load-carrying rollers, an endless belt to impart rotative movement .to said rollers, a series of adjustable .rollers engaging the working run of the belt and operative to press the same against the load-carrying rollers, and bearing means for the adjust able rollers, respectively, each of said hearing means including an adjustable member supporting the end of the corresponding roll er and having two opposite sides formed -with broad guiding channels each having longitudinal lips at its opposite sides, a guiding and supporting member in which the adjustable member is slidably mounted, the guiding and supporting member having fiat spaced sides respectively having flatwise engagement with the bottoms of the respective channels and edgewise engagement with the lips of said channels, the guiding and supporting member also having a member connecting its sides with each other and flanges secured to the frame, and an adjusting means for each adjustable member, including an element which extends through the connecting wall of the guiding and supporting member and has a head at one end and a holding element at its other end, respectively engaged with said wall and the end of the adjustable member remote from the wall.

.5. A structure according to claim 4 and wherein the frame has longitudinal side membersb' which the load carryingrollers are sup y and the bearing means for the. ad- {stable rollersare dis substantiall ween the horizontal p anes of the top an bottom of said side members.

6. A conveyer to claim 4 and wherein the frame includes ongitudmal members separate from those by which the loadcarrying rollers are carried and to which separate longitudinal members the guidmaafd supporting members for the adjustable rings are secured and from which said members roject upwardly.

7. conveyer according to claim 4, 1 n which the frame has a first pair of longitudinal side members by which the loadcarry' rollers are supported and asecond air :f longitudinal members by which the ring means for the ad'ustable rollers are 9 supported and from w ich said bearing 7 means project upwardly, and in which also a separate series of rollers are carried b the second pair of longitudinal members an support the returning run of the belt. 8. A conveyor accordin to claim 4 in which the frame includes a rst pair of longitudinal side members which carry the loadsu rting rollers, and a second pair of longitusinal members to which the guiding and supporting members for theadjustable bearing are secured and from which said members project upwardly, transversely dis d tie membersconnecting' the lower en s of the first air of frame members with each other a and mm which the second pair of frame members project downwardly, and a second series of rollers carried by the second pair of frame members and positioned to engage the returning run of the belt.

9. A conveyer according to claim 4 in which the frame -includes transverse tie members and also includes a second series of belt engaging rbllers arranged below the horizontal plane of. said tie members in position to engage the returning run 'of the belt together with support g means for the latter rollers carried said tie members.

10. A ring means for the end of a conve er roller, said bearing means com rising a rst member and a second member s idabl A mounted in the first member, together with means cooperating with the first member for sup rting the second member and for fixing the attcr in the position to whichithas been .set in said first member; said second member having a block-like body two of whose o its sides are, formed with substantial? road channels and one of whose remaining sides is formed with an o ning to. receive an axial projection from t e corresponding end of the roller; the first/member having spaced flat sides which are fitted to the channels in the sides of the second member and a top member which overlies the top of said second member, said sides also having lateral fla ro'ectin in opposite directions from thm ver ends End formed with horizontally e1 ated openings to receive elements by which t e bearing may be secured adjustably to the frame of a conveyor; said upp rting and fixing-omens including an element extending m the upper end of the secondmember through the top of the first member and rovided with means operative thereon to a just the second member and to hold'the same in adjusted position.

-11. A bearing means for the end of a conve er roller said bearing means com ris' a rst siida lii member and a second member mounted in the first member, togetherwvitl i means cooperating with the first member for supfirtmg the second member and for fixin' g the tter 1n the position to which it has been set in said first member; said second member havin a block-like bod two of whose opposite si es are formed wit substantially broad channels and one of whose remaining'sides is formed with an opening to receive an axial projection from the corresponding end of the roller; the first member having spaced flatsides which are fitted to the channels in the sides of the second member and a to member which overlies the top of said secon member,

said sides also havin at their lower endsti flanges which inclu e oppositely tapere horizontal portions and vertical portions prothereon to adjust the second member and to hold the same in adjusted position.

12. A conveyor comprising a frame, a series of load-supportingmrollers carried b said frame, an endless It the upper sur ace of whose working run is engaged with said rollers, a series of belt-supporting rollers engaging the undersurface o of said belt, and bearing means for the ends of the latter rollers; each of said bearing means comprising a first member and a second member slidably mounted in the first member, together with means cooperating with the first member for supporting the second member and for fixing the latter in the position to which it has been set in said first member; said second member having a blockthe working run 7 like body two of whose opposite sides' are formed with substantially broad channels and one of whose remaining sides is formed with an opening which receives an axial rojection from the end of the correspon ing belt-supporting roller; said .second member having spaced fiat sides which are fitted to the channels in the sides of the second memher and also having a top which overlies the top of said second member, said sides having means, including lateral flanges, for securing the bearing means to said frame; said supporting and fixing means including an element extending from the upper end of the second member through the top of the second member and provided with means operative thereon to adjust the second member and to hold the same in adjusted position.

13. A conveyer according to claim 12, in which the frame includes a first pair and a second pair of longitudinal members, and the load-supporting rollers are carried by said first pair and the bearing means are carried by said second pair, and in which, also, the lateral flanges project from the lower ends of the sides of the first members of the respective bearing means and are formed with openings which are elongated in the direction of the length of the conveyer and through which extend elements of the means by which the bearing means are secured adjustably to said second pair of frame members.

14. A conveyer according to claim 12, in which the frame includes a pair of longitudinal members, having substantially vertical faces by which the load-supporting rollers are carried, and the lateral flanges project from the lower ends of the sides of each second member and include oppositely tapered substantially horizontal portions and substantially vertical portions, the latter projecting from the inner ends of said horizontal portions and lying against, the substantially vertical faces of said frame members and having openings which are elongated in the direction of the length of the conveyer and through which extend elements of the means by which the bearing means are secured adjustably to the second pair of frame members.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JOHN C. WALTER. RUDOLPH VOGT. 

